Today we live in a world where summiting Mt. Everest has become a symbol of pride, vanity, and arrogance, and I am compelled to quote Pablo Figueroa’s no-holds-barred article entitled “Vanity, Pollution, and Death on Mt. Everest," wherein he quotes, “Ninety percent of contemporary Everest climbers are clients who want to 'bag' the top of Everest for selfish purposes." Rather than a noble pursuit, Everest is thought of as something that needs to be done at all costs, another item to check off in a long list of egoistic accomplishments."

However, there are still people around in the Himalayas who stand as guardians and torchbearers of the region’s fragile ecology, culture, and traditions, like Nepal’s iconic mountaineer Ang Tshering Lama, who has summited Mt. Everest multiple times and holds to his credit the mantle of conducting the world’s highest rescue mission on Mt. Everest in the year 2017.

A small number of indigenous Sherpa mountaineers have, of late, ushered in a fresh dimension when it comes to summiting some of the world’s highest peaks. They are summiting with a mission, or "Sankalpa," a vow, and trying to take noble messages across to the summit top—cleaning up garbage on mountains and generating awareness about social evils like drug addiction, human trafficking, human rights issues, and global warming, to name just a few.

Ang Tshering Lama, mountaineer extraordinaire! I have known Ang since my childhood days in India’s remote northeastern state of Assam. We grew up together in a boarding school—Carmel Residential School—in the quaint Assamese town of Tezpur.

Ang’s passion to safeguard and preserve the fast-vanishing Sherpa culture from the Himalayas is legendary—be it his rescue missions during the 2015 Nepal earthquake, rebuilding remote Nepalese villages, or guiding an all-widow team to the top of the world, Ang has contributed immensely through his philanthropic bent of mind.

He epitomizes the quintessential “Sherpa Pride” and tells me how many mountaineers go to summit Mt. Everest, keeping in mind the cause of humanity. How many? Tell me? Barely a few!

With the kind of mindset that Ang has, he is always looking for a good cause, and who would forget that incredible campaign on top of Mt. Everest, guiding and mentoring a former drug addict—Wangda Sherpa—all the way to the top with the message “Say No To Drugs" in May 2019?

Legends have this uncanny knack of identifying opportunities in hopeless situations. Ang is on a "mission" once again—this time with a 1,830-mile expedition where the team will summit Mount Everest in Nepal and continue their stellar journey downstream by kayak through the Himalayan river systems and finally culminate in the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh.

A freewheeling interview with the legendary mountaineer:

Good morning, Ang! Good to see you back in Kathmandu. You are once again in “Mission Mode" with a remarkably daunting and extraordinary initiative on climate change. Can you enlighten us about your upcoming Summit to Sea project?

Summit to Sea is an expedition and storytelling initiative that connects the highest point on Earth to the rivers and ocean it sustains. It begins with a clean ascent of Mount Everest in Nepal and continues downstream by kayak through the Himalayan river systems through India to the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh, physically tracing the journey of water from its source in the mountains to the sea.

This project is built on a simple truth: mountains, rivers, and communities are a connected system. Glaciers and snowfields in the Himalayas act as natural water towers, feeding rivers that support ecosystems, agriculture, and nearly two billion people across South Asia. When the mountains change, the rivers change, and so do the lives of those who depend on them.

By climbing to the source and following the river downstream, the expedition aims to capture the complete story of how freshwater systems begin, flow, and sustain life. Can you elucidate this part of the expedition?

Our goal is to highlight that we need to protect rivers first, and only then can we aspire to protect the mountains (Himalayas). One must bear in mind that the Summit to Sea project is at the intersection of climate change and its impact on the environment.

Over long years of exposure to the extreme high altitudes and the Everest region in particular, I have experienced how climate change is altering the fragile ecosystem of the Himalayas and its people. So, hopefully, if all goes well, the Summit to Sea initiative should be able to generate global awareness and significantly amplify the voice of native people of the Himalayas.

Ang, can you tell us one stand-alone element that the Summit to Sea project will carry with it in the course of the expedition?

Yeah, and I like this question! Before every expedition I undertake into the great outdoors—be it Mt. Everest, be it Denali… I personally see to it that each of my expeditions carries values, is ethical, and brings in a paradigm shift in the environmental mindset of the global community.

On the Summit to Sea project, we have chosen the art of “storytelling” as one of the key influencers to promote awareness of climate change.

The idea is to bring about a transformation in the mindset, and believe me! Nothing compares to the art of "storytelling." We are attempting a tangible human narrative demonstrating the direct relationship between mountain ecosystems and life far downstream.

The educational programs following and during the expedition are a central component of this project. Our goal is not only to demonstrate ethical leadership through action but also to actively promote responsible mountain practices within both the guiding community and the next generation.

If I am right, the Summit to Sea expedition is structured in two integrated phases, representing the complete lifecycle of freshwater from its origin to its final destination. Can you give us a peek into how you have structured this expedition?

You are dead right, Subhas. The first phase consists of a clean and responsible ascent of Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth, and a critical origin point for Himalayan river systems.

Everest’s glaciers function as natural freshwater reservoirs, storing and releasing water that sustains entire regions downstream.

This ascent will be conducted in strict adherence to Leave No Trace® principles, demonstrating environmental responsibility and ethical leadership in one of the world’s most fragile and symbolic environments.

Reaching the summit represents a direct engagement with the source of the Dudh Koshi River system, highlighting both its environmental significance and its vulnerability.

The second phase is going to be the kayak descent. We come down to the foothills of Everest and kayak down the Dudh Koshi River, the “Restless River of Everest." Fed by glacier meltwater, the river flows through Nepal and joins larger river systems that eventually reach the Bay of Bengal. This phase transforms an environmental concept into a tangible human narrative where we deploy our “Storytelling” pathway to demonstrate and connect to not just the natives of the Himalayas but also to establish a direct relationship between mountain ecosystems and the global community.

I believe the project will involve the youths too! How do you plan to reach out to this segment?

We will conduct a Leave No Trace awareness workshop at Base Camp targeted at climbers, guides, and support staff. This workshop will focus on ethical expedition behavior, waste management, human impact in fragile alpine environments, and the importance of personal responsibility in preserving mountain ecosystems.

In partnership with the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), we will organize interactive awareness sessions with the youths in the Khumbu region. These sessions will include hands-on activities, discussions, and storytelling focused on environmental stewardship, mountain ethics, and empowering young people to become custodians of their environment.

What are the kinds of sponsorship opportunities available on the Summit to Sea platform?

Ours is a global stage, and naturally nothing short of “Global Spotlight”! Your brand won’t just be seen; it will be celebrated. Through international documentaries, exhibitions, press features, and live updates, sponsors will stand in the spotlight of a worldwide audience inspired by adventure, resilience, and purpose.

Associating with the project is no longer a sponsorship; rather, it’s an investment for the future. By supporting conservation education, Leave No Trace® training, and resilience programs, your brand will empower mountain and river communities to thrive while protecting the places that sustain us all.

Like all my past expeditions, this one too meets international benchmarks for safety and professionalism, ensuring every dollar is aligned with excellence. Your partnership fuels a mission that balances daring exploration with meticulous preparation, delivering both impact and integrity.

Wrapping up

As a responsible travel media professional used to promoting exotic destinations and great hotels and resorts, the phenomenal magnitude of climate change is in itself a mind-blowing crisis.

As a travel journalist and knowing the kind of person Ang is, I, for one,, am hyper excited about the success of the Summit to Sea initiative. This is one expedition that will echo for years through film, photography, and social media highlights. From a personal standpoint, it feels great to become part of a living story that inspires the next generation.

Having grown up in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas, there is no greater fulfillment than protecting these mountains, the freshwater systems that sustain life across continents, and being able to contribute towards climate change and thereby reshaping this fragile balance.

Factbox: People and organizations interested in sending “Mission-specific” summits on not just Mt.Everest, but also other 8000 mts. peaks can seek logistical support from Angs Himalayan Adventures – an exclusive mountaineering company run and administered by the legendary mountaineer Ang Tshering Lama himself. AHA has a team of unmatched Sherpa climbers, who have years of experience under their belt.